NIAMEY— The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Yousef Bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, affirmed the OIC's keenness to the Sahel security and stability.

He made this statement during his speech in front of a brainstorming session, entitled "The Security and Humanitarian Challenges Facing the Sahel Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation", on the sidelines of the 47th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the member states of the OIC, held in Niamey Saturday.

"I would like to emphasize the General Secretariat's interest in the situation in the Sahel region due to the multifaceted repercussions of such developments," the OIC chief said.

"This has turned the Sahel into a hotbed of tensions, instability, terrorist attacks, organized crime, climate change, and scarcity of resources and water. Such conditions have impacted people's daily lives and the pace of development."

"If the recent developments in the region continue unaddressed, it would complicate the situation further and open the way for the terrorist organizations’ expediency of such conditions to intensify their attacks and strengthen and expand their strongholds,” he added.

Meanwhile, Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum on Saturday reaffirmed his country's stance on fighting all forms and sources of Islamophobia.

His remarks came during his speech at the 47th meeting of foreign ministers of the OIC. He noted that the meeting comes in a critical time where Islamophobia and campaigns against Islam are rising especially in Europe, as well as terrorism and extremism.

The rights of Muslims in non-Muslim countries are being violated, even in job opportunities and education, Boukadoum said. The minister also called for signing an international agreement to fight terrorism and cut off all of its sources.

Meanwhile, he said that the meeting is an opportunity to enhance cooperation between Muslim countries to achieve development and tackle stability and security issues. — Agencies